Playgrounds forced to close as children are glued to their TVs, survey finds

Playground closures mean that children are spending more time indoors glued to television, mobile phone and computer screens, a new survey has found.

One in three parents said their local park had declined or closed, and more than half claimed their children would play outside more if they could.

But half of those questioned admitted that their children wouldn’t play outdoors anyway as they now preferred their games consoles.

The Mail on Sunday’s Save Our Parks campaign revealed that one playground a week has closed in the UK since 2014.

Mark Hardy, chairman of the Association of Play Industries, said: ‘We are in danger of leaving entire communities without anywhere for children to play.

‘Couple this with digital culture and the inducement it creates for children to stay indoors – inactive and alone – then children are facing dire consequences for their mental and physical health.’

Half of parents questioned admitted that their children wouldn’t play outdoors anyway as they now preferred their games consoles

The association, which is today launching its own Play Must Stay campaign, questioned more than 1,100 parents on the Mumsnet forum.

Nine out of ten who did not live close to a playground said that access to one would make their child play outside more.

Of those with easy access, 61 per cent said it did raise the time their child played outside, and over half said more access to playgrounds would make their child more active.

The Mail on Sunday has called on the Government to invest in green spaces after years of cutbacks.